USA > Iowa > Story County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa > Part 62
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where he tilled the soil up to 1851 or 1852. After this he came to Story County, and as his means were rather limited, he bought but a small tract where he now lives. He has been very successful, and is now one of the wealth- iest farmers of Story County, owning at the present time 1,200 acres of land, with about 400 acres in the home place, all fine land and in a good state of cultivation. He has a large two-story house, good, substantial barns and out-buildings. He is the owner of three other farms, one of 220 acres in Polk County, and he keeps a good breed of stock, having fed and bred cattle and hogs for over twenty years. He has some fine Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs, and also some good horses. In the management of everything connected with his farm he displays excellent judgment and thoroughness, qualities which can not fail of success. He has ever held to the princi- ples and supported the measures of the Repub- lican party. In the fall of 1868 he was nom- inated and elected to represent Story County, re-elected in 1872, and served through two terms of the Legislature, serving on several of the most important committees with credit to himself and his constituents. Mr. Wood has served as delegate to the State and other conventions, and his personal popularity is thus shown. He was married in Kosciusko County, Ind., in October, 1847, to Miss Me- linda Cory, a native of Elkhart County, Ind., and the daughter of Jeremiah Cory. To them were born three children: Cory (grew to man- hood, married and died in this county in 1873), Curtis A. [see sketch ], and James H. (who is married and resides in the county). The mother of these children died on March 29, 1862. Mr. Wood afterward married Miss Louisa Ingersol, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of David Ingersol. One child, Carrie (wife of Edwin Pizer, of this county ( was
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the result of this union. Mrs. Wood died on February 3, 1870, and Mr. Wood was married again on December 8, 1870, to Mrs. Julia Hobbs, a widow, and the daughter of Mr. Addis, a native of Ohio. One daughter is the fruit of this union. Mrs. Wood died on May 8, 1874. Mr. Wood is now living with his fourth wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Griffith, but who was the widow of a Mr. Davis. She was born and reared in Ohio, and by her first mar- riage became the mother of one child, a dangh- ter, who is grown and married. Mr. Wood is a member of the Baptist and his wife.a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has had three wives who were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Mason, but has not met with the lodge for a number of years.
Jesse R. Wood. Prominent among the suc- cessful men whose history forms the glory of Story County, Iowa, is found Jesse R. Wood, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Indian Creek Township. Mr. Wood was born in Al- len County, Ohio, August 19, 1832, and is a son of John G. Wood, who was born in Mason County, Ky., July 17, 1792. After a happy youth passed in the Blue-Grass State, he moved to Ohio, where he met and married Miss Anna Kinnison, of Greenbrier County, Va. After his marriage Mr. Wood settled in Logan County, Ohio, in 1816, from thence he moved to Allen County in 1826, after which he located in Story County July 17, 1854, remaining there until the time of his death, January 27, 1870. He served in the War of 1812. The subject of our sketch moved with his parents to Indiana in September, 1840, and remained with them until nineteen years of age, when he located in Story County, Iowa, while there was still an abundance of game. His estate of 220 acres is in a state of excellent cultiva- tion and very well located. In politics Mr. Wood
was a Republican, but is now an Independent. In 1862 he married Miss Julia E. Wilson, of Ohio, a daughter of Alfred and Anna Adams Wilson. They are the parents of six children: Anna (who is now the wife of Walter King), Henrietta, Harvey A., Louisa A., Jessie E. and Ada L. Mrs. Wood and her daughters are members of the Christian Church, Mr. Wood belonging to the Baptist Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the Grand Army of the Republic. Through the late war he served from 1861 until dis- charged April 29, 1862, on account of disa- bility, as third sergeant Company E, Third Iowa Infantry Volunteers.
Curtis A. Wood, connty sheriff. Among the representative, thorough-going and efficient offi- cials of Story County, Iowa, there is probably no one more deserving of mention than Mr. Wood, for his residence within its borders has extended throughout his entire life, his birth having occurred here on the 9th of October, 1855. He became familiar with the duties of farm life at a very early period, his father being a well-to-do agriculturist, but, in addi- tion to tilling the soil, he attended the common schools near his home, and in 1873 entered the Iowa State Agricultural College, where he con- tinued to pursue his studies until the spring of 1876. He left this institution a wide-awake, enterprising and well-informed young man, and immediately began buying and shipping stock to Chicago, an enterprise which, tended to develop his knowledge of things in general, and human nature in particular. In pursuing this calling, he became well and favorably known throughout the county, and, being a stanch Republican in his political views, his numerous friends elected him to the position of county sheriff in 1887, and in 1889 re-elected him with a majority of 1,805. He is the first native-born resident of the county elected to a
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county office, but the very efficient manner in which he has discharged his duties has fully testified to the wisdom of the people's choice. The confidence which they have in him is in- telligently placed, for they have known him from boyhood, and have had every opportunity to judge of his character and qualifications, and, to his credit be it said, that all speak warmly in his praise. He was married on the 13th of September, 1877, his wife being Miss Rose E. Beatty, her birth having occurred in Kosciusko County, Ind., November 5, 1860, and to their union two bright little boys have been born: Claud K. (born October 31, 1878), and Walter R. (born October 2, 1880). Mr. Wood is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Her- ald Lodge No. 455, of Maxwell, the I. O. O. F., of that place, and he also belongs to Sampson Lodge No. 77, K. of P. His parents, Will- iam K. and Malinda (Cory) Wood, were born in the "Buckeye State" in 1822 and 1830, respectively, but the latter was called from the scene of her earthly labors at the un- timely age of thirty-two years, her demise oc- curring in Story County, Iowa, whither they had moved about 1854, being among the first settlers of this region. They were the parents of two children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the elder. His record as a private citizen, as well as a public man, is untarnished, and in all the affairs of life he has borne him- self in an upright and straightforward manner, and is recognized to-day as a man of true worth.
Solomon Young is a pioneer farmer of this county, but since disposing of his farm in 1889, he has devoted his attention to the breeding of fine stock. He was born in Somerset County, Penn., March 4, 1827, and is a son of David and Mary (Ash) Young, who were also born there, the former in 1793, and the latter in 1798, their deaths occurring in 1877 and 1843, respectively. Solomon Young is the fourth of
their six children, three of whom are living at the present time, and in his boyhood days learned the details of farm work under the di- rection of his father. His knowledge of books was acquired in the old time subscription schools, and after he had reached years of dis- cretion he began tilling the soil on his own re- sponsibility, and carried on the same in Penn- sylvania for three years, or until 1855, at which time he came to Story County, Iowa, and settled on a farm in what is now known as Milford Township, which he named. He en- tered his land on the 14th of April, 1855, and on this farm he continued to make his home until 1884, when he gave up the active duties of life and removed to Nevada, selling his old homestead in 1889. Having been long a resi- dent of this county, and an honorable and up- right man in every business transaction, he is well known throughout this region, and is highly esteemed and respected. He has al- ways supported the men and measures of the Democratic party, and has been trustee and also justice of the peace of Milford Township. He belongs to Lodge No. 99, of the A. F. & A. M., of Nevada. Miss Louisa Boucher, who was born in Somerset County, Penn., November 7, 1831, became his wife on the 5th of Febru- ary, 1852, and by her he has become the father of the following children: Almira M., Hiram B., George K., Ida A., Charles E., William M., and Marion B.
Theodore Elihn Alderman, the pioneer mer- chant of Story County, has had mention in va- rions chapters in this history. In the early days his prominence in business, also as the county school-fund commissioner, and as the leading citizen of the county seat, gave him great influence. This, by strict integrity in his dealings with all sorts of people, he has fully maintained and still enjoys. In the sum- mer of 1853 he started out from the village of
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Hillsboro, in Henry County, Iowa, where he had engaged in mercantile business in a small way, to seek a broader field. When at Des Moines, he learned that the commissioners would meet to locate the county seat of Story County on the following day. His attention was attracted by the opportunity that was offered to begin with the beginning, and he joined the locating party. How he secured a lot, contracted for the delivery of logs for a house, and raised the building on the day the town lots were offered for sale, is told else- where. This occurred on his twenty-eighth birthday, September 8, 1853. His wife and infant son had arrived at the cabins of J. P. Robinson, one of which the Alderman family occupied, on August 8. It was soon known that the material for the pioneer store was on hand, and Mrs. Alderman was frequently called on to open the boxes and supply pressing needs in advance of the regular opening day. In this manner, in the Robinson cabin, with the earth for a floor and a split-board roof to shut out the sky, was begun a business that has con- tinned without cessation to the present. Soon after Mr. Alderman took possession of his place, near the southwest corner of the court- house block, it was more noted than any other place in the county. Being the only house in town, it must shelter the public as well as be the only place for mercantile traffic. It be- came the office of the county judge and of the only physician in the east half of the county. It was the only post-office, and within its walls occurred the first birth, the first marriage, the first death and the first sermon. During these years Mr. Alderman was school-fund commis- sioner, and was ordered by his superior officer, James D. Eads, of unsavory memory, to sell the university lands in the county at their ap- praisement. In obeying these orders, he had serions embarrassment for a time. Mr. Eads
repudiated the acts of his subordinate, because the latter would not forward the funds illegally. But the firmness of Mr. Alderman secured title to the purchasers, and probably saved some money to the State, thoughi at some risk to him- self. Elisha Alderman, the grandfather of the Story County pioneer, was born in Connecti- cut about 1755. His father was captain of a British merchantman, and with his vessel was captured by a French war vessel, from which he made his escape in mid-ocean, and was picked up by a friendly sail and landed at Boston. From this seaman it is said that all those in America who bear the name are descended. Elisha Huff Alderman, a son of Elisha, came with his father from Central- western New York in 1808, and settled in Southern Ohio. Here he married Sarah Baker, whose father came from Germany. To this pair was born at West Rushville, Fair- field County, Ohio, September 8, 1825, the subject of this sketch. The father of T. E. Alderman was a farmer and contractor; he made brick and built houses for the neighbor- ing farmers. The son wrought with his father in these labors. He was thus, at an early age, inured to honest toil. He followed his father's fortunes through various removes in Ohio, which included residence in Fairfield, Athens, . Jackson, Scioto and Pike Counties, and De- cember 2, 1845, landed in Lee County, Iowa. June 3, 1850, he was married in Clark County, Mo., to Hannah A. Reynolds, a native of Wash- ington County, Ohio. The surviving issue of this marriage are a daughter, Minnie A., wife of J. A. Mills, the present treasurer of Story County, and the sons, Oscar B., Ed T. and Ulysses S. About twenty years ago Mr. Alderman associated with himself in business the elder son, and the style of the house be- came T. E. Alderman & Son. About two years ago the father retired from active participation
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in the business, the younger sons' names were added to the firm, and they assumed act- ive management. The 960-acre farm adjoin- ing the town, and the rearing of improved live stock, have been made a part of this continuous business of thirty-seven years. Mr. Alderman is a man of fine physique, large and portly, of strong mental organization, and with the cour- age of his convictions to do and dare whatever
he believes to be right. He is modest in as- serting himself, but tenacious in purpose when set in a given direction. With early advan- tages as to scholarship he would have been a forceful leader in any community. He has a just pride in his long and not uneventful busi- ness career, and in which he has survived every one who entered the race with him.
ERRATA.
Correction of matter received too late for proper insertion:
Page 309: Sketch of Frank B. Cramer. 1st line, Bertis instead of Bartis.
Page 310: Same sketch. 12th line, Stiey instead of Stier. 13th line, 29th instead of 15th.
Efforts to secure the following reference to the schools of Iowa Centre for insertion in the proper place on Page 237 proved unavailing. Same is given here:
Among those who have taught in the schools of Iowa Centre since 1856 are the following: Porter Webb, Miss Lizzie White, Miss Sallie Jenness, Albert Ingersoll, Miss Aggie Taylor, W. K. Webb, Milton Webb, Clara Funk, Maggie Cadwalader, Mr. and Mrs. Weatherby, Miss Clara Brubaker, Mr. and Mrs. Sisson, Mr. Hannah, Lorna Baldwin, Jennie Funk, Charlie Elwood, Ansel Bartlett, Nellie Harmen, Ellen Forbes, John Ellen, Carroll
Tichenor, Kitty Hall, Kate Squires, David Hank- ins, Carrie Wood and Kate Smith, all of whom gave satisfaction. During the first three or four years school was held in a log building 12x14, but as the population increased, a frame edifice was erected, 20x30, in 1858 or 1859, followed later by another structure of the same size for the, use of more advanced scholars. In 1876 the present building was completed, containing two large rooms, with lobby and ante-rooms. The attend- ance is well kept up during the year. Among the well-known individuals who have interested them- selves from time to time in this school and its work may be mentioned Nathan Webb, Rev. Cadwalader, Henry Funk, William White, F. M. Baldwin, Dr. Sheldon, W. K. Wood, J. W. Maxwell, William Smith, J. W. Will, Frank Highly, James Thomp- son, Jacob Ray and D. D. Sheldon.
The Publishers will cheerfully correct by spec- ial errata sheet to be sent to every subscriber any error in the book, upon notification of the same.
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